Yoga

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What is it?

Kundalini yoga is an ancient yoga practice from traditional India. It usually involves a combination of controlled breathing, meditation, and physical body movements or postures..

Kundalini yoga has been used for a type of anxiety marked by recurrent thoughts and repetitive behaviors (obsessive-compulsive disorder or OCD), depression, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support most of these uses.

It is effective?
Natural Medicines rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.

Possibly Effective for …

  • A type of anxiety marked by recurrent thoughts and repetitive behaviors (obsessive-compulsive disorder or OCD). Practicing Kundalini yoga might improve symptoms of OCD and reduce the need for medicine. It seems to be more effective than practicing relaxation and mindfulness meditation. But this evidence is generally low-quality, so higher quality research is needed to confirm.

Possibly Ineffective for …

  • High blood pressure. Practicing Kundalini yoga does not seem to lower blood pressure in people with high blood pressure.

Insufficient Evidence to Make a Determination for …

  • Memory and thinking skills (cognitive function). Practicing a specific type of Kundalini yoga that involves one nostril breathing might improve memory and thinking skills.
  • Decline in memory and thinking skills in older people that is more than what is normal for their age. Practicing Kundalini yoga seems to improve memory and thinking skills in people with mild age-related memory decline about as well as a memory enhancement training program.
  • Depression. Early research shows that practicing Kundalini yoga may improve symptoms of depression.
  • Other conditions.

More evidence is needed to rate Kundalini yoga for these uses.

How does it work?
Kundalini yoga is an ancient Indian practice. It involves doing breathing exercises, meditation, and body postures. It’s thought that Kundalini yoga might calm the nervous system, which might help maintain good health and improve some medical conditions.

Is there concern for the safety of its use?
Kundalini yoga is POSSIBLY SAFE when used appropriately. No adverse events have been reported in clinical studies. But Kundalini yoga involves breathing and meditation practices that are more intense than other forms of yoga. For this reason, some experts worry that Kundalini yoga may not be the safest form of yoga for some people.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn’t enough reliable information to know if Kundalini yoga is safe to practice when pregnant or breast-feeding. Until more is known, avoid using.

Are there any drug interactions?
There are no known interactions with medications. Before taking this product, talk with your health professional if you take any medications.

Are there any interactions with herbs and supplements?
There are no known interactions with herbs and supplements.

Are there any interactions with food?
There are no known interactions with foods.

What dose is used?
The appropriate or safe use of Kundalini yoga depends on several factors such as the condition being treated or the person administering the treatment. Be sure to seek and follow relevant directions from your physician or other healthcare professional before using this treatment.

By what other names is the product known?
Circular Yoga, Coiled Yoga, Raja Yoga, Roya Yoga, Yoga of Awareness.

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